Former NHL player Jay Rosehill has identified two veterans he believes could elevate the Toronto Maple Leafs’ championship ambitions: Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri and New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck. Speaking on Leafs Morning Take, Rosehill emphasized both players’ potential to add depth, leadership, and playoff-ready grit to a roster seeking long-elusive postseason success.
Kadri, who spent nine seasons with Toronto before joining the Flames in 2022, remains a compelling hypothetical target for his former team. Rosehill highlighted the 34-year-old’s recent 35-goal campaign, durability (82 games played in 2024–25), and power-play contributions as evidence of his enduring value. “If you put him on this roster, it looks really deep and really heavy, and the skill is still there,” he said, praising Kadri’s blend of tenacity and professionalism. The center’s $7 million annual contract, running through 2029, and a no-move clause complicate any potential deal, but Rosehill argued his playoff experience — including a Stanley Cup win with Colorado in 2022 — could galvanize Toronto’s core.
Trocheck, meanwhile, presents a more cost-effective option at a $5.625 million cap hit through 2029. The Rangers’ two-way standout recorded 59 points last season while excelling defensively, a balance Rosehill called essential for postseason hockey. “The [lineup] balance would just be humming,” he said of a hypothetical Trocheck acquisition. However, New York’s potential plans to name the 31-year-old team captain — coupled with Kadri’s contractual control — make both scenarios logistically challenging.
Calgary’s stance further dampens trade possibilities. NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported Tuesday that the Flames have “no interest” in moving Kadri, who remains central to their retooling efforts. The player himself addressed the speculation cautiously, calling repeated trade links “a little bit bizarre” but acknowledging that circumstances can shift. “If the situation is right, you never rule anything out,” he said, per analyst Jeff Marek.
For Toronto, the discussion underscores ongoing questions about roster construction. While Kadri and Trocheck offer proven secondary scoring and defensive responsibility, their acquisition costs — both in assets and cap management — remain substantial hurdles. Rosehill’s analysis reflects a broader league-wide challenge: balancing immediate contention windows with long-term flexibility, particularly for a Maple Leafs team under persistent pressure to advance beyond early playoff exits.
